Zwanziger, Raymond G.M. 1912-2003

ZWANZIGER, SCHMIDT, ANDREAE, ROYS, HOOP

Posted By: S. Ferrall - IAGenWeb volunteer
Date: 4/2/2022 at 17:55:33

Raymond Gottlob Michael Zwanziger, 91, died of bone cancer and strokes early Sunday afternoon in Hospice Care at the Elkader Central Community Hospital.

He was born August 10, 1912, the third of seven children to Carl and Ida (Schmidt) Zwanziger at their Cass township farm home. He was baptized September 8, 1912 by Rev. G.H. Fuehr and confirmed September 6, 1925 by Rev. F.W. Knappe at St. Sebald Lutheran Church, rural Strawberry Point, Iowa.

He spoke German until starting country school in 1917 at the Weger School Cass #4 when he learned English. He was Valedictorian of the Strawberry Point High School in 1929. A one year business course in 1931-1932 at Wartburg College, Waverly, Iowa completed his school days.

Beginning in July 1933 he was a farmhand, working for H.D. Flower of Arlington 1 1/2 years. Jack F. Huebsch, 1 year 10 months, and Harold Huebsch, 1 year 8 months, the latter two stints being on the J.A. Huebsch farm near St. Sebald.

On September 2, 1938, Ray married Ruth Andreae in a twilight service at St. Sebald officiated by Rev Paul Eilers. Beginning October 1, 1938 they rented her father's farm and the tillable acres of her Aunt Esther's farm. To this union were born two daughters, Andrea Marie and Mary Ann.

In January 1943 they moved to his father's farm and rented there until 1951 when they took possession of a farm in Sperry township which they had purchased from Jack Huebsch. In March 1966, Ray and Ruth sold their dairy herd and enjoyed the freedom from milking twice a day.

In June, 1968, the Republican Party asked Ray to run for County Auditor. He was elected, and then re-elected in 1972. Not wishing to be burdened with a farm, nor caring to drive daily to Elkader, they sold the farm to Gary and Barb Jellings, bought a house in Elkader and moved October 1, 1970. In 1976 he declined to run again, feeling he was not capable of performing the duties of the office as he thought the electors had a right to expect. He continued to work part time for the County Engineers doing research work leading to vacating little used county roads.

He was an active member of 3 Lutheran churches; St. Sebald until 1951, St. Paul in Volga until 1970, and Bethany in Elkader since then. Other organizations he belonged to included Farm Bureau, the Lions, and Gideons, and frequently served as secretary and/or treasurer.

After retirement, Ray and Ruth spent a lot of time at their daughter Andrea Roys' farm and in 1996 he moved into an apartment over their garage. He spent the rest of his days chopping and stacking wood or chasing thistles and gophers according to the season, working puzzles, cracking walnuts while watching the Chicago Cubs baseball games and visiting with family and friends.

He was preceded in death by his wife Ruth in 1989, his parents and a sister Hilda Zwanziger and two brothers, Walter and Ernest. He is survived by two daughters, Andrea (Mrs. William J.) Roys of Wadena, Iowa and Mary Ann (Mrs. Alfred) Hoop of Des Moines; one sister Esther (Mrs. Herbert) Andrea of Elkader and two brothers, Alwin of Strawberry Point, Pastor Otto of Cedar Rapids, five grandchildren, and eight great grandchildren.

Ray donated his body to the School of Medicine at Iowa City and his remains will be returned later for burial at the St. Sebald Church Cemetery.

~Clayton County Press Journal, Wednesday, September 10, 2003, pg 11